Memory chips and data protection methods

ABSTRACT

A memory chip coupled to a host includes a memory and a controller. The memory is pre-loaded with a plurality of boot images, wherein the boot images have the same content. The controller is coupled to the memory, and processes data transmissions between the memory chip and the host, wherein the controller further determines whether the memory chip enters a boot mode for the first time, and when the memory chip enters the boot mode for the first time, the controller accesses the memory to obtain a correct boot image from the boot images and transmits the correct boot image to the host. Further, each boot image includes a plurality of data blocks, and the controller loads a plurality of correct data blocks from one or more of the boot images to obtain the correct boot image.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/561,612, filed on Dec. 5, 2014, which claims priority ofTaiwan Application No. 103100330, filed on Jan. 6, 2014, the entiretiesof which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a system and methods for protecting correctdata, and more particularly to a system and methods for protectingcorrect data in a memory chip.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, more kinds of different electronic products are beingdeveloped, such as cellular phones, tablet computers, MP3 players,portable hard disks, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, digitalcameras, hand-held gaming devices, and others. These electronic productsare usually equipped with memory devices for storing essential datarequired for supporting system operations, recording user information,etc. . . . .

The essential data is very important data that is required for thesystem to activate and initiate the host and makes the electronic deviceto function normally. In order to avoid damaged data in the memorydevice causing the electronic device to be unable to successfullyactivate, a system and methods for effectively protecting correct dataare required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Memory chips and data protection methods are provided. An exemplaryembodiment of a memory chip coupled to a host includes a memory and acontroller. The memory is pre-loaded with a plurality of boot images,wherein the boot images have the same content. The controller is coupledto the memory, and processes data transmissions between the memory chipand the host, wherein the controller further determines whether thememory chip enters a boot mode for the first time, and when the memorychip enters the boot mode for the first time, the controller accessesthe memory to obtain a correct boot image from the boot images andtransmits the correct boot image to the host. Further, each boot imageincludes a plurality of data blocks, and the controller loads aplurality of correct data blocks from one or more of the boot images toobtain the correct boot image.

An exemplary embodiment of a data protection method includes:pre-loading a plurality of boot images in a memory chip, wherein theboot images have the same content; determining whether the memory chipenters a boot mode for the first time; obtaining a correct boot imagefrom the boot images when the memory chip enters the boot mode for thefirst time; and transmitting the correct boot image to a host coupled tothe memory chip.

Another exemplary embodiment of a data protection method includes:determining whether a memory chip enters a boot mode; determiningwhether the memory chip has pre-loaded a plurality of boot images withthe same content, obtaining a correct boot image from the boot imageswhen the memory chip enters the boot mode and has pre-loaded the bootimages with the same content, and transmitting the correct boot image toa host coupled to the memory chip. Each boot image comprises a pluralityof data blocks, and the step of obtaining the correct boot image fromthe boot images further comprises: determining whether the data blocksof one or more of the boot images are correct, and loading a pluralityof correct data blocks from one or more of the boot images to obtain thecorrect boot image.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequentdetailed description and examples with references made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a memory chip according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for burning the boot imageaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a controller according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for obtaining a correct boot imageaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a merge operation according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the merge operation according toan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carryingout the invention. This description is made for the purpose ofillustrating the general principles of the invention and should not betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determinedby reference to the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a memory chip according to an embodimentof the invention. The memory chip 100 may include a memory 120 and acontroller 110 controlling data transmission between the memory chip 100and the host 50. According to an embodiment of the invention, thecontroller 110 and the memory 120 may respectively be a controller dieand a memory die, and are packaged in the memory chip 100. The memorychip 100 may be coupled to a host 50 via an interface 60. Note that inorder to clarify the concept of the invention, FIG. 1 presents asimplified block diagram, in which only the elements relevant to theinvention are shown. However, it is well-known in the art that thememory chip may further include other devices or circuits not shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, the invention should not be limited what is shown inFIG. 1. The memory chip 100 and the host 50 may be installed in theclient side or configured in an electronic device, and may be integratedwith the hardware and software/firmware of the electronic device as asystem. In the embodiments of the invention, the electronic device maybe a mobile communications device, a tablet computer, an MP3 player, aportable hard disk, a GPS receiver, a digital camera, a hand-held gamingdevice, or others.

When manufacturing the memory chip 100, important data assigned by theclient is usually pre-loaded into the memory 120 through the externalcomputer device (not shown in the figures) and the machine or the systemtool at the factory side, and then the memory chip 100 is welded on theprinted circuit board. The important data pre-loaded in the memory diemay include a boot image (also called boot code). The boot imageincludes a plurality of software or firmware programs and importantsystem parameters, such that the host 50 coupled to the memory chip 100can initiate the host 50 itself and some other hardware devices in theelectronic device according to the boot image, or drive the memory chip100 and the hardware devices in the host 50 according to the boot image,to make the host 50 have basic input/output capability. For example, thehost 50 may have the basic capability of accessing and controlling thememory chip 100 and other hardware devices. The host 50 may be includedin the electronic device. For example, the host 50 may be a microcontroller unit (MCU) included in the electronic device, or it may beindependent from the electronic device, such with an external computerdevice coupled in the factory.

Generally, before welding the memory chip 100 on the printed circuitboard, a boot image is pre-loaded or burned in the memory 120. Next, thememory chip 100 is welded on the printed circuit board. However, biterrors usually occur in the single boot image due to the hightemperature environment when welding. When the number of error bits islarge, the boot image is regarded as damaged, causing the memory chip100 and even the host 50 coupled to the memory chip 100 to be unable tobe activated. To solve this problem, systems and data protection methodsfor effectively protecting correct data are provided.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the memory 120 may include a plurality ofpre-loaded boot images. According to an embodiment of the invention,each boot image may have the same content. The controller 110 coupled tothe memory 120 may process the data transmission between the memory chip100 and the host 50. In addition, the controller 110 may determinewhether the memory chip 100 enters a boot mode for the first time. Whenthe memory chip 100 enters the boot mode for the first time, thecontroller 110 may access the memory 120, obtain a correct boot imagefrom the boot images and transmit the correct boot image to the host 50.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for burning the boot imageaccording to an embodiment of the invention. According to an embodimentof the invention, when manufacturing the memory chip 100, themanufacturer may pre-load a plurality of boot images in the memory 120of the memory chip 100 (Step S202). According to an embodiment of theinvention, to protect the content of the boot image, the pre-loaded bootimages may have the same content. That is, besides the original bootimage, the memory 120 may further store more than one backup boot image.Next, the manufacturer may set a first flag F_(MultiCopy) for indicatingthat the memory chip stores a plurality of boot images with the samecontent (Step S204). For example, the manufacturer may set the firstflag F_(MultiCopy)=1 and store the first flag F_(MultiCopy) in thememory 120. Next, the manufacturer may fabricate or weld the memory chip100 according to the client's requirements (Step S206). For example,welding the memory chip 100 on the printed circuit board.

When the memory chip 100 is fabricated, the memory chip 100 may furtherbe installed or configured in an electronic device at the client side.When the electronic device is powered, the controller 110 in the memorychip 100 may load the boot image according to the proposed dataprotection method to solve the problem of being unable to activate thememory chip 100 and even the electronic device equipping the memory chip100, due to too many error bits.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according to anembodiment of the invention. First of all, a plurality of boot imagesare pre-loaded in a memory chip 100 (Step S301). Note that step S301 isusually performed before welding the memory chip 100 on the printedcircuit board. After welding and coupling the memory chip to the host50, the memory chip 100 performs the steps following from step S302.When the electronic device is powered, it is determined whether thememory chip 100 enters the boot mode for the first time (Step S302). Ifyes, a correct boot image is obtained from the pre-loaded boot images(Step S304). Next, the correct boot image is transmitted to the host 50(Step S306). If not, the data protection method is not performed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, in step S302, thecontroller 302 may determine whether the memory chip 100 enters the bootmode according to a waveform of a signal transmitted on the interface60. When the waveform of the signal matches a predetermined waveformdefined by the corresponding standards, it is determined that the memorychip enters the boot mode. In an embodiment of the invention, the memorychip 100 may be an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) chip conforming to theembedded memory standards defined by the MultiMediaCard Association(MMCA). The eMMC chip 100 may be coupled to the host 50 via an eMMCinterface 60. Before the host 50 completes a boot procedure, the host 50is unable to give a complete data access command to the memory chip 100to obtain the boot image from the memory chip 100 for preforming asubsequent boot procedure. However, the host may transmit apredetermined voltage or signal waveform on one or more specific pins ofthe eMMC interface 60 so that the eMMC chip 100 may enter the eMMC bootmode according to the voltage or signal waveform. In the eMMC boot mode,the eMMC chip 100 may actively provide the boot image to the host 50. Inaddition, in step S302, when the memory chip 100 enters the boot modeaccording to the signal waveform on the interface 60, whether the memorychip 100 enters the boot mode for the first time may be determinedaccording to whether a first flag is set. In one embodiment, the firstflag may be the first flag set in step S204 in FIG. 2 (for example, bysetting F_(MultiCopy)=1). When the memory chip 100 enters the boot modefor the first time and transmits the correct boot image to the host 50(Step S306), the memory chip 100 may further clear the first flag (forexample, by setting F_(MultiCopy)=0). That is, when the memory chip 100is activated again at some time later, the first flag is cleared.According to another embodiment of the invention, in step S302, thecontroller 110 may further determine whether the memory chip 100 entersthe boot mode for the first time only according to the first flagF_(MultiCopy) stored in the memory 120.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according toanother embodiment of the invention. First of all, a plurality of bootimages are pre-loaded in a memory chip 100 (Step S401). Similar to stepS301, step S401 is usually performed before welding the memory chip 100on the printed circuit board. After welding and coupling the memory chip100 to the host 50, the memory chip 100 performs the steps followingfrom step S402. When the electronic device is powered up, it isdetermined whether the memory chip 100 enters the boot mode (Step S402).If yes, it is further determined whether a plurality of boot images withthe same content have been pre-loaded in the memory chip 100 (StepS404). If yes, a correct boot image is obtained from the pre-loaded bootimages (Step S406). Next, the correct boot image is transmitted to thehost 50 coupled to the memory chip 100 (Step S408). If the memory chip100 does not enter a boot mode or the memory chip 100 has not pre-loadeda plurality of boot images with the same content, the data protectionmethod is not performed.

Compared with the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the only difference isthat, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether thememory chip 100 has pre-loaded boot images according to the first flaginstead of determining whether the memory chip 100 enters the boot modefor the first time. Note that another flag or variable can also bestored in the memory chip 100 for indicating whether the memory chip 100has pre-loaded a plurality of boot images or whether the memory chip 100enters the boot mode for the first time, and the invention should not belimited to any specific method of implementation.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a controller according to an embodimentof the invention. According to an embodiment of the invention, thememory 120 stores data in data blocks. Therefore, the plurality of bootimages pre-loaded in the memory 120 may include a plurality of datablocks. The controller 110 may include at least an error detection andcorrection module 530 and a merge module 540. The error detection andcorrection module 530 detects and corrects bit errors in the data storedin the memory 120. Generally, the error detection and correction module530 may set a repairable threshold. The error detection and correctionmodule 530 may detect a number of error bit(s) included in one datablock according to a predetermined algorithm. When the number of errorbit(s) included in one data block does not exceed the repairablethreshold, the error detection and correction module 530 may be able tocorrect the error bit(s) included in this data block. The data blockafter error correction may still be regarded as a correct data block.However, when the number of error bit(s) included in one data block doesexceeds the repairable threshold, the error detection and correctionmodule 530 may be unable to correct the error bit(s) included in thisdata block. Therefore, the data block may be regarded as a damaged datablock. The merge module 540 may load correct data blocks from one ormore of the boot images to obtain the correct boot image. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the merge module 540 may further perform amerge operation. That is, merging the correct data blocks obtained fromthe one or more of the pre-loaded boot images to form a boot image copy,and then store the boot image copy in the memory 120, where the contentof the boot image copy is the same as the correct boot image transmittedto the host 50. In an embodiment of the invention, the controller 110may set a second flag after obtaining the correct boot image. When thememory chip 100 operates in an idle state, the merge module 540 furthermerges the correct data blocks according to the second flag, and clearsthe second flag after the boot image copy is formed. In addition, notethat in order to clarify the invention, FIG. 5 presents a simplifiedblock diagram, in which only the elements relevant to the invention areshown. However, the controller 110 may include other devices or circuitsnot shown in FIG. 5, and the invention should not be limited what isshown in FIG. 5.

The proposed data protection methods will be discussed further in thefollowing flow charts.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a data protection method according toanother embodiment of the invention. Please refer to both FIG. 2 andFIG. 6. First of all, a plurality of boot images are pre-loaded in thememory chip 100 (Step S601). Note that the step S601 is usuallyperformed before welding the memory chip 100 on the printed circuitboard. After welding and coupling the memory chip 100 to the host 50,the memory chip 100 performs the steps following from step S602. Whenthe electronic device is powered, the host 50 is powered up (Step S602).Next, the controller 110 of the memory chip 100 may determine whetherthe memory chip 100 enters the boot mode for the first time (Step S604).If yes, the controller 110 executes the procedure A for obtaining acorrect boot image from the pre-loaded boot images (Step S606).According to an embodiment of the invention, the controller 110 may loadthe correct data blocks from one or more boot images to obtain a correctboot image. The procedure A will be further described in FIG. 7. Afterthe procedure A is ended, the controller 110 may further determinewhether a correct boot image is obtained (Step S608). If yes, thecontroller 110 may clear the first flag F_(MultiCopy) (Step S610). Forexample, setting F_(MultiCopy)=0. Next, the controller may further setand store a second flag F_(MergeCopy) in the memory 120 (Step S612). Forexample, setting F_(MergeCopy)=1. According to an embodiment of theinvention, the second flag F_(MergeCopy) indicates whether to performthe merge operation on the pre-loaded boot images. The merge operationis further discussed in the following paragraphs. Next, the controller110 may further transmit the correct boot image to the host 50 (StepS614). On the other hand, if the memory chip 100 does not enter the bootmode for the first time, or cannot obtain a correct boot image in theprocedure A, the flow is ended.

Note that in the embodiments of the invention, the sequence ofperforming the steps S610, S612 and S614 may be flexibly adjusted, andthe invention should not be limited to any specific method ofimplementation.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for obtaining a correct boot imageaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to both FIG. 5and FIG. 7. According to an embodiment of the invention, suppose thatthe memory 120 stores M copies of boot images with the same content,where M is a positive integer greater than 1 and the each boot image mayrespectively include N data blocks, where N is a positive integer. Whenprocedure A begins, the controller 110 may first set the variable n=0(Step S702) and set the variable m=0 (Step S704). Next, the controller110 may access the memory 120 to load the n^(th) data block of them^(th) boot image (Step S706). Next, the controller 110 may determinewhether the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot image is a correct datablock (Step S708). As discussed above, the controller 110 may determinewhether it is a correct data block according to the detection result ofthe error detection and correction module (for example, the errordetection and correction module 530).

When the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot image is a correct datablock (the yes path of step S708), the controller may increase thevariable n by 1 (Step S710). Next, the controller 110 may determinewhether all of the data blocks in the m^(th) boot image have beenchecked. For example, the controller 110 may determine whether thevariable n equals to N (Step S712). If not, the procedure returns tostep S704, in which the controller 110 may set the variable m=0 and thenaccess the memory 120 to load the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) bootimage in step S706. If the controller 110 determines that all thecorrect data blocks have been loaded (the yes path of step S712), thecontroller may set the variable LoadFail=0 (Step S714), which means thatthe controller 110 successively obtains the correct boot image.

On the other hand, when the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot imageis not a correct data block (the no path of step S708), the controller110 increases the variable m by 1 (Step S716). Next, the controller 110may access the memory 120 to load the n^(th) data block of the m^(th)boot image (Step S718). Next, the controller 110 may determine whetherthe n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot image is a correct data block(Step S720). As discussed above, the controller 110 may determinewhether it is a correct data block according to the detection result ofthe error detection and correction module (for example, the errordetection and correction module 530).

When the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot image is a correct datablock, the procedure returns to step S710 for the controller 110 toincrease the variable n. When the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) bootimages is not a correct data block, the controller 110 may furtherdetermine whether all of the M boot image have been checked. Forexample, the controller 110 may determine whether the variable m equalsto M (Step S722). If not, the procedure returns to step S716 for thecontroller 110 to increase the variable m. When all of the M boot imageshave been checked, because the controller 110 is unable to successivelyobtain a correct boot image at this time, the controller 110 may set thevariable LoadFail=1 (Step S724), which means that the controller 110cannot successively obtain the correct boot image.

Note that although in the flow chart shown in FIG. 7, the controller 110returns to the first boot image to load the subsequent data block afterobtaining a correct data block from the other boot image (for example,after the controller 110 determines that the n^(th) data block of them^(th) boot image is a correct data block in step S720, the procedurereturns to step S710 for the controller 110 to increase the variable nand then returns to the step S704 for the controller 110 to set thevariable m=0, so as to load the subsequent data block from the firstboot image), the invention should not be limited thereto. For example,in other embodiments of the invention, when the controller 110determines that the n^(th) data block of the m^(th) boot image is acorrect data block in step S720, the controller 110 may stay in them^(th) boot image to load the subsequent data block. Therefore, theinvention should not be limited to what is shown in FIG. 7. In addition,the controller 110 does not have to browse each boot image in order. Thecontroller 110 may also randomly search for correct data blocks from theM boot images according to other control mechanisms and therefore, theinvention should not be limited to the methods as discussed above.

When the controller 110 successfully obtains the correct boot image, thehost 50 may receive the correct boot image from the memory chip 100 andexecute the received boot image to complete the predetermined bootprocedure. Then, the host 50 may function normally. According to anembodiment of the invention, the controller 110 may further perform amerge operation on the boot images with the same content after the host50 functions normally so as to keep a correct boot image copy and erasethe remaining duplicated boot images. For example, the controller 110may perform the merge operation via the merge module (for example, themerge module 540).

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a merge operation according to anembodiment of the invention. When the memory chip 100 operates in anidle state (Step S802), the controller 110 may determine whether thesecond flag F_(MergeCopy) is set (Step S804). For example, thecontroller 110 may determine whether the second flag F_(MergeCopy)=1. Inan embodiment of the invention, when determining that the interface 60coupled between the host 50 and the memory chip 100 is idle, the memorychip 100 operates in an idle state. As discussed above, the second flagF_(MergeCopy) may be set in step S612 to indicate that the mergeoperation on the pre-loaded boot images is required. When the secondflag F_(MergeCopy) is set, the controller 110 may perform the mergeoperation on the boot images with the same content so as to keep acorrect boot image copy (Step S806). On the other hand, when thecontroller 110 determines that the second flag F_(MergeCopy) is not setin step S804, it means that the merge operation is not required.Finally, the controller 110 may clear the second flag F_(MergeCopy), forexample, by setting F_(MergeCopy)=0 (Step S808). After the mergeoperation, the correct boot image copy is stored in the memory 120 andthe remaining duplicated boot images are erased.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the merge operation according toan embodiment of the invention. The boot images before performing themerge operation are shown on the left-side of FIG. 9 and the correctboot image copy obtained after performing the merge operation is shownon the right-side of FIG. 9. The boot image 900 may be the original bootimage and the boot images 901, 902 . . . 90M may be the copies of theboot image 900. In other words, the boot images 900˜90M may have thesame content. During the merge operation, the correct data blocks (suchas the blocks with slashes shown in FIG. 9) in one or more boot imagesmay be collected and merged by the controller 110 to form a correct bootimage copy 950.

In the embodiments of the invention, the problem of having excessiveerror bits in the boot image due to the high temperatures of welding,which can cause the memory chip and even the host coupled to the memorychip 100 to be unable to be activated, can be effectively solved throughthe data protection methods as discussed above.

The embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in any ofnumerous ways. For example, the embodiments may be implemented usinghardware, software or a combination thereof. It should be appreciatedthat any component or collection of components that perform thefunctions described above can be generically considered as one or moreprocessors that control the function discussed above. The one or moreprocessors can be implemented in numerous ways, such as with dedicatedhardware, or with general-purpose hardware that is programmed usingmicrocode or software to perform the functions recited above.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in theclaims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote anypriority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or thetemporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are usedmerely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain namefrom another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinalterm) to distinguish the claim elements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofembodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make variousalterations and modifications without departing from the scope andspirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present inventionshall be defined and protected by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A memory chip, coupled to a host, comprising: amemory, pre-loading a plurality of boot images, wherein the boot imageshave the same content; and a controller, coupled to the memory,processing data transmissions between the memory chip and the host,wherein the controller further determines whether the memory chip entersa boot mode for the first time, and when the memory chip enters the bootmode for the first time, the controller accesses the memory to obtain acorrect boot image from the boot images and transmits the correct bootimage to the host, wherein each boot image comprises a plurality of datablocks, the controller loads a plurality of correct data blocks from oneor more of the boot images to obtain the correct boot image, wherein thecontroller determines whether the memory chip enters the boot mode forthe first time according to a first flag, and wherein the first flagindicates whether the memory stores a plurality of boot images with thesame content.
 2. The memory chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein thememory chip is coupled to the host via an interface, the controllerdetermines whether the memory chip enters the boot mode for the firsttime further according to a waveform of a signal transmitted by the hoston the interface, and when the waveform of the signal matches apredetermined waveform and when the first flag is set, the controllerdetermines that the memory chip enters the boot mode for the first time.3. The memory chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the memory chipenters the boot mode for the first time and when the correct boot imageis obtained, the controller clears the first flag.
 4. The memory chip asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises: an error detectionand correction module, detecting and correcting error bit(s) in the bootimages, wherein during a process of accessing the memory, when the errordetection and correction module detects that a number of error bit(s)comprised in one of the data blocks does not exceed a repairablethreshold, the data block is regarded as a correct data block.
 5. Thememory chip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises: amerge module, merging the correct data blocks of the boot images to forma boot image copy, and storing the boot image copy in the memory.
 6. Thememory chip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller sets a flagfor indicating whether to perform a merge operation after obtaining thecorrect boot image, and when the memory chip operates in an idle state,the merge module further merges the correct data blocks to form the bootimage copy according to the flag, and clears the flag after the bootimage copy is formed.
 7. The memory chip as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe memory chip is coupled to the host via an interface, and when theinterface is idle, the memory operates in the idle state.
 8. A dataprotection method, comprising: pre-loading a plurality of boot images ina memory chip, wherein the boot images have the same content;determining whether the memory chip enters a boot mode for the firsttime according to a first flag, wherein the first flag indicates whetherthe memory chip stores a plurality of boot images with the same content;obtaining a correct boot image from the boot images when the memory chipenters the boot mode for the first time; and transmitting the correctboot image to a host coupled to the memory chip, wherein each boot imagecomprises a plurality of data blocks, and the step of obtaining thecorrect boot image from the boot images further comprises: determiningwhether the data blocks of one or more of the boot images are correct;and loading a plurality of correct data blocks from one or more of theboot images to obtain the correct boot image.
 9. The method as claimedin claim 8, wherein the memory chip is coupled to the host via aninterface, and when a waveform of a signal transmitted by the host onthe interface matches a predetermined waveform and when the first flagis set, the memory chip is determined as entering the boot mode for thefirst time.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:clearing the first flag when the memory chip enters the boot mode forthe first time and when the correct boot image is obtained.
 11. Themethod as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of determining whetherthe data blocks of one or more of the boot images are correct furthercomprises: detecting a number of error bit(s) comprised in one of thedata blocks; and regarding the data block as a correct data block whenthe number of error bit(s) comprised in the data block does not exceed arepairable threshold.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 8, furthercomprising: merging the correct data blocks of the boot images to form aboot image copy; and storing the boot image copy in the memory chip. 13.The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: setting a flagfor indicating whether to perform a merge operation after obtaining thecorrect boot image; merging the correct data blocks according to theflag when the memory chip operates in an idle state; and clearingthe-flag after the boot image copy is formed.
 14. A data protectionmethod, comprising: determining whether a memory chip enters a bootmode; determining whether the memory chip has pre-loaded a plurality ofboot images with the same content according to a first flag, wherein thefirst flag indicates whether the memory chip stores a plurality of bootimages with the same content; obtaining a correct boot image from theboot images when the memory chip enters the boot mode and has pre-loadedthe boot images with the same content; and transmitting the correct bootimage to a host coupled to the memory chip, wherein each boot imagecomprises a plurality of data blocks, and the step of obtaining thecorrect boot image from the boot images further comprises: determiningwhether the data blocks of one or more of the boot images are correct;and loading a plurality of correct data blocks from one or more of theboot images to obtain the correct boot image.